Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pillaiyaiyum Killi Vittu

From Anaiya Vilakku · 1975

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Mu. Ka. Muthu
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Anaiya Vilakku1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pillaiyaiyum killivittuPinching the child first,
Thottilaiyum aati vittuAnd then rocking the cradle,
Nalla pillai polirukkum magaraasiOh queenly woman pretending to be a good person!
Pillaiyaiyum killivittuPinching the child first,
Thottilaiyum aati vittuAnd then rocking the cradle,
Nalla pillai polirukkum magaraasiOh queenly woman pretending to be a good person!
Male
Silar poonaikkum thozhan enbaarSome say she is a friend to the cat,
Paalukkum kaaval enbaarAnd also a guardian to the milk,
Antha kadhai kaattuthu un mugaraasiThat story clearly shows your true face.
Male
Pillaiyaiyum killivittuPinching the child first,
Thottilaiyum aati vittuAnd then rocking the cradle,
Nalla pillai polirukkum magaraasiOh queenly woman pretending to be a good person!
Male
Kadhalil paathi kaividum jaathiAbandoning midway in love,
Kaalaigal enbarkal ellorumEveryone says men are that kind of breed,
Aanaal kadhalan thannai kaividum pennaiBut a woman who abandons her lover,
Kandavar illaiyammaa ennaalumHas never been seen by anyone ever.
Male
Pudhithaai irukkuthammaa seemaatti unnaiIt feels so novel, my lady,
Pennena solluvathaar paaraattuWho would praise you as a true woman?
Male
Pillaiyaiyum killivittuPinching the child first,
Thottilaiyum aati vittuAnd then rocking the cradle,
Nalla pillai polirukkum magaraasiOh queenly woman pretending to be a good person!
Male
Sooriyan thannai yaarena ketkumA lotus flower that asks who the sun is,
Thaamarai pooovengum kidaiyaathuDoes not exist anywhere.
Un ullaththai kelu unmaiyai koorumAsk your own heart, it will tell the truth,
Nenjukku poi solla theriyaathuThe heart does not know how to lie.
Male
Nilavai vaanariyum thannaalaeThe sky naturally knows the moon on its own,
Nam uravai oorariyum munnaalaeBefore the whole town comes to know about our relationship.
Male
Pillaiyaiyum killivittuPinching the child first,
Thottilaiyum aati vittuAnd then rocking the cradle,
Nalla pillai polirukkum magaraasiOh queenly woman pretending to be a good person!
Male
Ooruyir endru uravinil andruBack then in our relationship, as one soul,
Eeruyir kalanthathellaam poiyaachchuThe merging of two lives has all become a lie now.
Antha pattinaththaarum pathinettu perumThe words that Pattinathar and the eighteen Siddhas
Paadina vaarththaiyellaam meiyaachchuSang in their poetry have all come true.
Male
Nambinor keduvathundu pennaalaeThose who trust women are bound to be ruined,
Endra nalla sol paliththathammaa unnaalaeThat wise saying came true because of you, my lady.
Male
Pillaiyaiyum killivittuPinching the child first,
Thottilaiyum aati vittuAnd then rocking the cradle,
Nalla pillai polirukkum magaraasiOh queenly woman pretending to be a good person!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Pillaiyaiyum Killivittu' from Anaiya Vilakku expresses heartbreak and bitter betrayal experienced by a lover whose partner proved to be deceitful. Utilizing well-known Tamil proverbs—such as secretly pinching a child while pretending to rock its cradle, or posing as both the cat's friend and the protector of milk—the protagonist condemns her double-faced nature. He notes that while society frequently accuses men of abandoning love, she has shown the rare cruelty of deserting a devoted partner. Urging her to consult her own conscience, he reflects on the philosophical warnings of ancient Tamil saints like Pattinathar and the 18 Siddhas, bitterly concluding that their warnings about misplaced trust have sadly proven true through her actions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverb / Idiom (Pazhamozhi)

Pillaiyaiyum killivittu / Thottilaiyum aati vittu

Uses the traditional Tamil proverb 'Pillaiyaiyum killivittu thottilaiyum aati vittu' as a metaphor for hypocritical and deceitful behavior.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Silar poonaikkum thozhan enbaar / Paalukkum kaaval enbaar

Employs the classic folk analogy of pretending to guard milk while being friendly with the cat to describe double-dealing.

Personification

Nenjukku poi solla theriyaathu

Attributes the human capability of honesty and speech to the conscience/heart.

Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

Antha pattinaththaarum pathinettu perum / Paadina vaarththaiyellaam meiyaachchu

Refers to saint Pattinathar and the 18 Siddhars of Tamil literature to validate his philosophical disillusionment with romantic betrayal.

Antithesis / Wordplay

Ooruyir endru uravinil andru / Eeruyir kalanthathellaam poiyaachchu

Contrasts 'Ooruyir' (one soul) and 'Eeruyir' (two lives) to highlight the broken bond.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Anaiya Vilakku' (1975) featured Mu. Ka. Muthu (son of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi) in the lead role, who also rendered this song as the playback singer. Lyricist Vaali skillfully wove Tamil folk proverbs and literary references to Siddhar philosophy into MSV's catchy composition.

Keep listening

More from Anaiya Vilakku